Wasp Barcode Technologies: The Barcode Solution People

How do Barcodes Work, Anyway?

1. Barcode your inventory. Using barcodes to track your business’ inventory can help you stay on top of where items are located and how many items are in stock. A basic inventory tracking system consists of software and a barcode scanner or mobile computer. Inventory items (like products you sell, supplies, or raw materials) will all have barcode labels, so when you remove an item from stock, you just scan the barcode to reduce the available count in your inventory tracking software, instead of having to type in a SKU.
2. Add barcode tags to your assets. Any business, no matter how large or small, has IT assets and fixed assets. That includes items like PCs, laptops, projectors, software, and tools. To help your IT staff save time, consider implementing a basic asset tracking system, including software and a barcode scanner or mobile computer. Barcoded asset tags are attached to each asset, and can be scanned to check items in or out in your asset tracking software. It’s a great way to improve accountability and makes audits much easier.
3. Create a shadow book for your retail store. Small items like screws or nails, or perishable groceries like fruit and vegetables, aren’t built for barcode labels. So to keep your checkout line moving lightning fast, try a shadow book or barcode scan sheet. It’s just a line listing of items and corresponding barcodes – so when someone brings a Washington apple to the cash register, you can look it up on your scan sheet, and just scan the barcode to ring it up.
4. Use barcodes in return mail. Does your organization sell products that require registration? Add a barcode to the return-mail registration postcard that matches the product’s serial number, and then you can instantly track which serial numbers are registered, and which aren’t. Plus, your customers won’t have to locate and transcribe a lengthy serial number.
5. Include barcodes in a mail merge. If your company is hosting an event, you can add barcodes to an RSVP card so you can track who has responded – without trying to translate anyone’s handwriting.
6. Add barcodes to invoices. Sending out invoices to your customers? Add a barcode that represents the customer number or the individual invoice number so when it’s returned with payment, you can easily locate the customer account or invoice number. This will prevent problems like applying payments to the incorrect customer account or invoice.